5 Newborn Photography Themes Suitable for Every Season
Calling all new parents! Your baby’s first weeks and months make up such a special period in your life that you really wish you could make time stand still. Although there’s no way to stop the clock and make this moment last forever, you can capture the feeling on film.
That’s why I’m a huge fan of newborn photo shoots that freeze-frame these fleeting moments so you can keep them forever. If you want to capture that indescribable feeling, you’ll have to do more than just whip out your camera and click the shutter button.
When I was preparing for our newborn photos, I really went down the rabbit hole. So much goes into planning your baby’s first photo shoot! I found that the most challenging aspect was choosing the perfect theme. So, I’ve shared what helped me so it can help you, too!
Why Seasons Inspire Great Photo Shoot Themes
With so many possibilities, it can be hard to narrow down your options. The method I ended up using was to group theme ideas by type. A very useful theme grouping, I found, was seasonal.
By selecting your newborn photography theme based on the season your baby was born, you can create images that will take you back to the time when your little one made their appearance. Making this part of your plan for your newborn photo shoot also opens up options for outdoor shoots, with nature playing into your ideas.
Here are five newborn photo shoot ideas to inspire a seasonal theme, whatever time of year your baby was born!
Springtime: Pastels in Bloom
Spring is a time of new beginnings—a perfect setting for the fresh start of a new life! To add a touch of spring to your newborn photography, start by considering the colors of spring. Spring colors are typically softer than the bright hues of summer. Look for soft pastels like pale yellows, mint, baby blues, lavender, and blushing pinks.
Which flowers are in bloom in spring in your neighborhood? Even if you aren’t using an outdoor location, try to incorporate these into your shoot. Popular springtime flowers include tulips, cherry blossoms, and daisies. Their gentle blossoms and soft colors are ideal complements to your baby’s delicate features.
Non-floral elements you can include in your spring-themed newborn photography include butterflies, pools of water, birds’ nests and more. If possible, go for an outdoor location like a garden, meadow or park.
Summertime: Rainbows and Sunshine
Summertime is another ideal part of the year for outdoor photo shoots. Think of a sandy beach with the waves crashing in the background, a field of summer flowers, or a lush green garden.
For summertime shoots, choose bright colors like sunny oranges, sparkling blues, bright pinks, and so forth. Again, think of the flowers in bloom at that time of year and use them to inspire your color palette!
You can also include these flowers and the fruits in season as props in your newborn photography. Other props you might include in your summertime baby shoot are seashells, sun hats, sunflowers, sunglasses, and beach umbrellas, among many others.
Balance out the inevitable oranges and yellows of your summertime theme with the bright colors of the rainbow. You can even hint at the season by dressing your baby in a romper with a rainbow motif.
Fall: Autumn Leaves
For autumn-themed inspiration, look to the fallen leaves lining the streets at this time of year. Warm earthy tones like rust, burnt orange, and woody browns will conjure the cozy feeling of fall.
Dress baby (and yourself) in knits in these colors to blend in with the theme. To capture the essence of autumn, add props like pumpkins, wooden crates, plaid blankets, baskets of autumn produce, hay bales, and fallen leaves.
Fall can provide you with great outdoor locations where the changing foliage and low autumn light can create the perfect setting for your newborn photo shoot.
Wintertime: Frosty Wonderland
If you want to do a newborn shoot to celebrate baby’s first Christmas, you can create a winter wonderland feel by incorporating cool tones like snowy whites and icy blues with silvery accents.
Pair these colors with faux fur rugs, a crackling fireplace, twinkling fairy lights, snowmen, and snowflake motifs to create an enchanting winter scene of ethereal beauty. If you like, you can extend your wintertime theme to include Christmas elements like pine trees and cones, baubles, and colored lights.
If you live in a snowy area and are comfortable taking your baby outside, the outdoors, blanketed in snow, can set the tone for a magical wintery theme. Alternatively, you can easily create your own frosty wonderland indoors, using artificial snow on the floor and tossed up into the air to create the illusion of snowfall.
Dress your baby in warm knits, including tiny mittens and knit hats, and swaddle them in richly colored warm blankets.
Any Time: Monochrome Classics
For a more timeless approach to your newborn photography, consider including some black-and-white shots in your shoot.
Monochromatic images convey the idea of a moment captured in time in a way that color often can’t. Black-and-white photographs communicate depth and emotion, focusing on the subject of the photograph rather than the props or backdrop.
If you prefer a simpler approach that cuts out the clutter, make sure you choose a photographer who has built up their portfolio in a way that suits this aesthetic. They should have the skill to spot and capture those intimate moments between parents and baby—a tiny hand squeezing Dad’s finger, a lazy little yawn, a wrinkled-up little nose.
Always Maintain a Personal Touch
Think of little items to include in the shoot that tell the special story of your one-of-a-kind child. Unique props might include your baby’s blanket or their favorite stuffed toy, which will also help them feel more comfortable.
Perhaps you’d like to commemorate a departed loved one, like a granny gone too soon, in your newborn photography. Including a sentimental item, like Granny’s brooch or Grandpa’s tie, in your shoot can make them part of the memory.
Whatever theme you choose, remember that the goal of any family photo shoot is to capture the unique essence of your little one and your family.
